#sun summoners

[stromuprisahat]

I just noticed that the new Sun Summoners being called a Sun Soldiers and… have been denied in their new nature? They're kinda aren't Grisha in-universe? Just Sun Saint Cult 2.0 but with some real upgrade?

What's worse- they're being denied existence outside of the great King Nikolai's army. They're not people, they're not even Grisha, they're just living weapons.

It's the exact opposite of what was the Darkling trying to achieve- he wanted Grisha to be seen as Ravkans. Perhaps with a different set of skills, but just as human as the majority of population, equal.

“... [The Darkling] vowed that we would someday have a safe place, that Grisha power would be something to be valued and coveted, something our country would treasure. We would be Ravkans, not just Grisha. That dream was the seed of the Second Army. …”

Ruin and Rising- Chapter 10

Kings lived and died. Their sons were honest or corrupt. Wars ended and began again—and again and again. Grisha were not accepted; they were resented in Ravka and hunted abroad.

Rule of Wolves- Chapter 33

Now there's a group that doesn't even have a name outside of the war effort (They're called Sun Summoners TWICE in the Shit duology.). They're just tools. Vessels of a useful power. Breathing shiny tech. They might not be officially serfs (maybe), but they're more dehumanized than ever.

Alina's legacy is destruction of every scrap of dignity afforded to Grisha.

[stromuprisahat]

I’ve always thought that if the Sun Summoner had been Fjerdan instead of Ravkan, it would’ve been so much more interesting and honestly way angstier too. It would just make way more sense for the character to be super judgmental and constantly arguing.

Like, if you grow up in Fjerda, where Grisha are literally hunted and executed, ofc e you’re going to have deep-rooted fear and hatred toward them — it’s what you’re taught from day one. So if the Sun Summoner came from that environment, all the distrust, the hesitation, the anger… it would feel a lot more natural and understandable, instead of needing so much explanation.

Yh, Ravka has its own issues with prejudice — they still put Grisha on a weird pedestal, either idolizing them or keeping their distance — but at the end of the day, Ravkan soldiers have to work with Grisha during their service. So even if they’re biased, they’re at least somewhat used to being around them.

But a Fjerdan Sun Summoner? They would have grown up absolutely believing Grisha are monsters. Watching them slowly unlearn all that? Struggling with their own powers? Being torn between everything they were taught and everything they’re becoming? That would’ve been so much more emotional and intense.

Specially with Aleksander.

I'm not particularly fond of the idea, however popular it seems.

While I agree Fjerda would be more digestible for a reader as an excuse of the MC's prejudice, Alina's main fault as a character whose journey we follow, is that we're stuck in her-compliant POVs. Her version of the story is never challenged no matter how much prevalent and prevailing bigotry she's overlooking or straight up excusing.

She could've served as a further proof that making Grisha VISIBLY useful doesn't erase the bias against them even after generations of loyal service. The main character, the "heroine" herself, is a proof of why is the Darkling right to decide to take things a step further, and actively carve out a stable place for Grisha from up down.

Unfortunately, everyone but him (and Ivan) bend to Alina's righteous delusion, even though she's the doom of Grisha, presented as their saviour.

Alina's origins are not what makes her such a bad heroine. Her lack of growth is. Give that hypothetical Fjerdan half of Alina's determination to stay the same, and you're just stuck with an asshole with slightly better excuse to be like that.

[stromuprisahat]

Shadow and Bone- 01×02: We're All Someone's Monster

notes to pics:

4th If he ever had any toys to play with, it would include a couple of dolls of him and the Sun Summoner. Shame we never really get into the mythology of Sun Summoners. Aside from the logical conclusion that where there is darkness, might be some light too...

6th He's getting a bit too intense again. Just like with Ulla. :D

Btw, is he thinking of gifting her the family jewels already, or just hoping he might hold her hand through it? xD

7th & 8th The disbelieve, the amusement, a bit of wonder, but also resentment… His long-awaited equal doesn't care about anything he does. She doesn't feel like Grisha, she doesn't cherish her powers.

[stromuprisahat]

Do you think Aleksander might have married at some point over his long life? And did he always wait for the Sun Summoner, or did that idea only come up after the Fold was created?

I’ve always wondered if he grew up hearing stories from his mother about a Sun Summoner and held onto the hope of meeting them, or if the idea only emerged after the Fold. Maybe before that, he was just focused on survival and creating a safe haven for Grisha, with the concept of a Sun Summoner—and a true counterpart—coming only later (which is so sad in a way)

Aleksander was always seeking companionship. At least as soon as he realized he and Baghra want something diametrically different. He even mentions lovers, but never spouses. It might be only a matter of wording- not thinking differently about loved ones he did or did not marry-, or he never made anything "official".

There's also the question of Grisha marriages- at least once he's officially the Crown's property- whether or not Grisha have a marriage just like anyone else, or is their legal standing different? Do they need their owner's blessing? Are they even allowed to marry, or is it just their own- yet legally not binding- ceremony?

I wouldn't be surprised if he- at some point- chose a political marriage to strengthen some alliance, whether feelings were involved, or not. Since that's one of the easiest ways to do so, and requires nothing more than his body- the thing he was taught to view as a commodity- I'd say it almost certainly happened. Probably more than once.

Regarding the Sun Summoners- we don't know anything about their mythology. We don't know if there are any legends, or how old. Whether those precede the Fold, or if they were spread after its creation. Were there any before, or did people simply do the math of Shadow Summoners => Sun Summoners?

The same applies to Sasha. How many stories did he hear, and hoped? The easiest way to find Grisha is to listen to fairy tales- how many times did he hear about a person with Sun at their palm only to find merely a powerful Inferni? Or no one at all? Were there such tales, or did it take a hopeful Shadow Summoner to realize darkness is nothing more than a lack of light?

We don't know anything, which is beyond ironic, since THE Sun Summoner was central character of the first three books. Not even her stay in religious cult focusing on ~her~ got us any information. I guess "the truth" is whatever we headcanon.

Baghra totally didn't tell him about them- she wanted to keep him to herself. Promising him companionship of a destined equal works directly against it. And he's always been smart. He'd put two and two together. Like calls to like and such...

[stromuprisahat]

You mentioned in a previous post that "shadow summoners were originally sun summoners". That sounds absolutely fascinating; could you elaborate and perhaps link a few posts?

Hi,

first of all, next time please send link to the post you mean, so I don't have to search my notes to find the one you're referring to. I don't always get to tumblr this fast, and it might turn into endless scrolling. 🙃

Second, it was a quote (with credit), so I'll refer you to @darkestelemental616 for more. ✌

[stromuprisahat]

[stromuprisahat]

I really like to play around with what [else than being a lightbulb] maybe Alina could do, or just sun summoners. Heat control? Messing with colors? Could they see UV if they wanted? Other radiatons?

Optical ilusions, infrared spying, medical uses, laser beams!

This isn't my area of expertise, so I've consulted Auntie Wiki:

In physics, the term "light" may refer more broadly to electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, whether visible or not. In this sense, gamma rays, X-rays, microwaves and radio waves are also light. 

"Aleksander, stop messing with merzost! I have a nuke in my fingertips!"

I had physics over a decade ago, if someone has any suggestions regarding practical use of manipulation of light, feel free to add it under↴